VPI Classic and ZYX Airy 3 X SB...good match?

nice stuff!! good for you.

Just one question: Do you or any other ZYX user here have the pick up set without anti-skating force?

I have read around that the 4D/Atmos as any other or at least most of the new high end pick up (including therefore the Airy 3) will run better with little or zero antiskating....is that true?
Won't this cause the cantilever to bend to one side?

I am really concerned to not ruin the 4D as it is a very expensive pick up and I would like to keep the cantilever as straight as possible for as long as the pick up goes :))

Yes Stefano, I used sometimes with antiskating removed from my Sirynx arm. Also the Italian importer suggested to me to try without AS, but recently I goes back with re-using it because cantilever was evidently not so straight during playing.
Sonic performance was excellent without AS, but for safety of the cartridge I prefer to have AS, also if it's not easy to set on my tonearm.
ciao
Marco

My experience with UNIverse is that *some* A/S is needed when the cartridge is new, though nowhere near the amount recommended by some tonearm dials. Does your VPI tonearm have the optional A/S device? If so, I'd recommend NOT using any of the supplied weights after the first 100 hours or so. Get some little O-rings that fit the rod and use as many or as few as you need to track difficult passages without R channel distortion/mistracking.

As the cart wears in you'll be able to decrease A/S steadily. If it acts like mine (and the suspensions are very similar, so it should) by the time you reach 4-500 hours it won't need any. At that point you can try removing the A/S device altogether. Most A/S devices are like any other doohickey hanging off the arm: an unnecessary resonance trap that raises the arm's sound floor.

I've personally seen more cantilevers canted from excessive A/S than from too little. I don't believe that's a significant risk. I've been running my UNIverse with zero A/S for two years and there's no sign of any cant.

It will vary from cartridge to cartridge though, so you'll have to watch, listen and decide for yourself.

I haven't received my VPI yet.
I have ordered it and I should receive it in the next couple of weeks, thus I don't know how the AS mechanism works yet but I know it is a supplied (It looks like it is made up with fishing line and little weights).
Now I am relly afraid of running the cartridge with no antiskating, I wouldn't like to bend the cantilever and I have actually read some odd experience from VPI and ZYX's users.
However speaking with Mike at VPI he told me that they have a ZYX on their tables too and it runs without AS and that I shouldn't be worried about it.

I usually set the antiskating/weight combo using the Hi-fi test record along with my oscilloscope to obtain maximum tracking with minumu skating force.
I assume that regulating AS with this method will guarantee the best alignment for the cantilever.
I would assume that if the system sounds better without AS it should also measure better as well.

Has anybody ever measured the antiskating along with a scope?

I also assume that good catridge set up allignment will allow less antiskating without damaging/bending the cantilever, my two cents.
That's why I am ordering a Mint LP with the 10X magnifier glass for the VPI because I assume it is the best tractor around.

Congratulations on ordering a Mint. Best product of its kind IME.

You learned how to use a scope, that's clever. Now learn when not to use it, that's wisdom.

Why assume the optimal setup for tracking a high amplitude, single frequency tone would also be optimal for tracking lower amplitude, multiple frequency music? That assumption is naive. It ignores the many obvious differences between the two conditions.

Any cartridge worth more than $50 will differentiate between such varying conditions, so it needs to be optimized for the condition you'll actually be playing. Certainly a top performer like the 4D does.

Your method will result in excessive VTF and A/S for real records, and that will shorten the life of your 4D's suspension. These excessive forces will also smother dynamics, reduce transient speed and limit high frequency extension. A 4D played with this setup will sound comparatively dull, slow and lifeless - but if it wears out sooner you won't suffer as long! ;-)